Smita A. Rahman
104 Asbury Hall
Department of Political Science
Office Hours: Tues 11:30- 12:30 and Thurs 11:30-12:30 and 3:50 -4:50
smitarahman@depauw.edu
Office Phone: 765-658-4830
Cell Phone: 773-572-6163
Skype: smita.a.rahman
POLS 130: Elements of Political Theory
Course Description
This course offers an introduction to and exploration of selected topics in the history of
Political Theory. It covers a range of thinkers, from the ancient Greeks to the
Enlightenment thinkers of Europe and closes on a contemporary note that asks us to
reflect on the theoretical underpinnings of our time. We will probe the resources and
limits of texts by Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, Arendt, and
Foucault, reading them in chronological order with an eye toward changes in concerns
and concepts across time. We will watch two contemporary films, Into the Wild and The
Lives of Others to explore the relationships between individuals and society and how
they are marked by power. The course will involve the consideration of the most vital
questions about politics: What kind of a subject of study is politics? What justifies the
authority of government, and what legitimates the rule of some people over
others? The writers we will read have varying responses to this question, suggesting
that there may not be agreement about a “right” answer. Some argue that the notion
of a social contract is a fruitful way to think about the nature of political authority and
obligation, while others contest this and argue for a more fluid conception that
appreciates historical continuity. Other questions we may address include: What is
freedom, and how is it related to equality? How does the relation between reason and
passion impact our understanding of politics? What is the relationship between politics
and culture?
Course Rationale and Objectives
The fundamental rationale of the course is to bring past writings and concepts to bear
on present realities. The thinkers we will read provide conceptual tools with which we
can work to understand our own political experience(s) in order to help develop our
own political perspectives and ideas. Moreover, the course aims to challenge ordinary
understandings of politics by expanding our concept of what politics is and the ways in
which politics surrounds us—namely, that politics consists of much more than what
happens in City Hall or in State Houses or in Washington and that it involves the
micropolitics of ideas and perceptions as much as the macropolitics of governance and
legislation.
The course is designed to help you:
 Understand the foundations and functions of political institutions.
 Appreciate the complexity of political institutions and experience.
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Critically analyze philosophical texts and consider different interpretations and
applications.
Ask and confront challenging and difficult questions about politics and common
life.
Improve your ability to clearly express ideas and opinions about politics, both
orally and in writing.
Course Requirements
Attendance and Participation: This course will require active participation and regular
work. You are expected to come to class having done the reading assigned for that day. I
will regularly refer to the text in my lectures and ask you questions based on it. Regular
attendance is a must. Class participation is essential to this course. You should come to
class prepared to actively discuss a range of topics based on the reading and to unpack
its broader implications and put it in critical perspective.
Assignments: In order to facilitate class discussion, you will be asked to complete small
assignments. These can take the form of short one-paragraph responses to a quote from
the assigned reading, an in-class quiz, a group assignment or a resonance paragraph that
asks you to connect the reading to some aspect of contemporary politics and culture.
Exams: The other requirements for this class include a midterm exam, an in-class open
book essay and a take-home cumulative exam. The midterm will consist of short essays.
The in-class essay will be an open-book exam, where you will be required to write an
essay on the social contract, using textual evidence and analysis. The essay will be
approximately 2-4 pages in length and you will be allowed the use of your computer.
The last exam will be a take home exam that will be consist of essay questions that you
will be required to respond to with detailed textual evidence and analysis.
Instructions for each of those exams will be provided and explained in detail in class
prior to the date of the exam. In addition, a review session will be conducted in class
prior to the final exam.
If you fail to take either one of the exams, the midterm, the in-class essay, or the takehome exam, you will not pass the course.
If you are permitted extra time during an exam because of a disability, you must inform
me well in advance of the scheduled exam so alternative arrangements can be made for
you.
If you need to reschedule an exam because of an athletic or university event or because
of illness, you must submit documentary evidence for my consideration in advance of
the scheduled exam.
If you miss an exam without prior notice you will not be allowed to make it up, except in
rare cases, with detailed documentation from your doctor or DePauw Administration
Your grade for this course will be computed as follows:
Class Participation and Attendance
Midterm Exam
In Class Essay
Take Home Exam
Assignments
15%
25%
20%
30%
10%
Course Material:
The following book is required for purchase and is available in the DePauw University
Bookstore.

Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche (Hackett)
Readings marked with an asterisk on the syllabus can be found on the Moodle page for
this course. You should download and complete the readings in advance of the assigned
date.
Office Hours and Accessibility:
My office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesday, I am available in my office
from 11:30-12:30. I am also available in my office from 11:30-12:30PM and again from
3:50-4:50 on Thursdays. Feel free to drop by to talk about the class, discuss future
interests or simply to continue a conversation. Send me an email to set up an
appointment if you need to meet to on a day when I do not offer office hours. I am also
available to meet via Skype (my Skype address is smita.a.rahman) and also available to
talk on the phone (773-572-6163) if we cannot meet in person. I strongly prefer to have
conversations in person so while I am happy to respond to texts and talk you on the
phone or skype, please try to come by office hours first.
I also offer additional office hours before exams and will announce them in advance by
email.
Academic Integrity:
Violations of DePauw University’s Academic Integrity Policy will be taken very seriously
and punished accordingly. All violations will be reported officially and the student will
fail the assignment for which they are charged with the violation.
The complete Academic Integrity Policy can be found at:
http://www.depauw.edu/handbooks/academic/policies/integrity/
SCHEDULE OF READINGS
Jan 28
Introduction
Jan 30
Film: Into the Wild
Feb 4
Film: Into the Wild
Man, Nature and Society—Into the Wild lecture and
discussion
Feb 6
*Aristotle, Politics (excerpt 1)
Feb 11
*Aristotle, Politics (excerpt 1)
Feb 13
Machiavelli, Letter to Vettori, pp.6-8 AND
The Prince, pp. 9-32
Feb 18
Machiavelli, The Prince, pp. 32-53
Feb 20
Machiavelli, The Discourses, pp. 53-88
Feb 25
Midterm Review Session
Feb 27
MIDTERM EXAM
Mar 4
Hobbes, Leviathan, pp.117-136
Mar 6
Hobbes, Leviathan, pp.152-199
Mar 11
Hobbes, Leviathan, , pp.208-217 and 228-240
Mar 13
Rousseau, On The Social Contract, pp.427-440
Mar 18
Rousseau, On The Social Contract pp. 440-454
Mar 20
Rousseau, On The Social Contract, 482-487
MAR 22- MAR 30
SPRING BREAK
April 1
Hobbes and Rousseau Review Session
April 3
IN CLASS EXAM
April 8
Mill, On Liberty, pp.592-620
April 10
Mill, On Liberty, pp.620-651
April 15
Marx and Engels, The Manifesto of the Communist Party
pp. 798-804
April 17
Marx and Engels, The Manifesto of the Communist Party,
pp. 804-809
April 22
Film: The Lives of Others
April 24
Film: The Lives of Others
Lecture and Discussion
April 29
*Arendt, Totalitarianism, (excerpt)
May 1
*Foucault, Discipline and Punish (excerpt)
May 6
*Foucault, Discipline and Punish (excerpt)
May 8
Conclusion and Review
TAKE HOME EXAM DUE BY EMAIL ONLY ON
Tuesday, MAY 13TH BY 5 PM***
***Late exams will be penalized by a third of a grade for every day that
they are late